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Category: Commentary

The Obama administration wants states to use standardized tests to not only judge students and schools but now teachers as well lest we lose ground to China. Coincidentally, China this week banned standardized testing in early grades and reduced it thereafter. …

If scandals in Indiana, Louisiana, New York, and Washington, DC—and Wall Street—are any guide, the public won’t know what hit ‘em. We cannot expect to run our schools the same way we run our speculation industry and expect anything other than an education recession. …

For half a century she had been a model for women in a man’s world. She had been a gutsy questioner of 10 presidents. She disdained colleagues whom she considered a spineless lot. “Where is the outrage?” she asked them. Sometimes she asked presidents questions that had not been asked and needed asking. But she just couldn’t keep her opinions to herself. …

As Cal Jillson, that keen observer of Texas politics at Southern Methodist University once explained to me: about 70 percent of Texas Anglos vote, and 70 percent of them vote Republican. Unless that changes, past is prologue for 2014. …

Rep. Beto O’Rourke: “Throwing another $46 billion in taxpayer dollars toward so-called border security, including more walls and untested technology and doubling the size of the Border Patrol, will have profound consequences for the city I represent, El Paso, and the entire state. If you want a jobs bill for the defense contractors that will build the wall and deploy various technologies, the Senate bill is for you. If you want a truly secure border, the Senate bill needs a lot of work.” …

Rep. Filemon Vela: “The Senate bill perpetuates an environment of fear and separation, and as one of our greatest Presidents said, that is the only thing we have to fear. I will not compromise my commitment to my border constituents for reasons of expedience. Thus, on this issue, I could not remain silent as members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus endorsed the Senate-passed bill. For that reason, I tendered my resignation.” …

If Americans witness their government abusing power, wouldn’t you want them to speak up? Molly Ivins used to jokingly call the gallery the “owners’ box” because that’s where the special interest lobbyists sat to survey the proceedings. As last Tuesday stretched noisily into Wednesday, the howling protestors were acting like they owned the place. In fact, they did. …